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The Leigh Art Trail

15 – 22 June

For more information, times and addresses please call 01702 470490, email or visit website.

Information about the town: Leigh on Sea is situated on the north bank of the Thames about 30 miles east of London.

There are many reasons to visit this charming old village during the Leigh Art Trail. Leigh boasts London's nearest beach, and many visitors travel down at the weekend to enjoy the sea air, gorgeous sunsets, and appreciate the beauty of Old Leigh with its cobbled streets and pretty clapboard cottages.

Leigh is famous for its pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. Because of the large number and high quality of practising artists in the town, many people now refer to Leigh on Sea as the St. Ives of the East.

Leigh on Sea is also famous for its shellfish. There is a small but active fleet of cockle boats, which keep alive the reputation of Leigh as the epicentre of the world cockling trade. The picturesque cockle sheds are home to many old Leigh families who have followed this trade for generations. The sheds are open daily, selling a wide variety of seafood including local specialities such as cockles, mussels, whelks, winkles and shrimps as well as crabs, prawns and lobsters.

Overview of trail: Founded in 1997 by a community of artists, the annual Art Trail is centred around the estuary town of Leigh on Sea, Essex. Come to this delightful fishing town to see the art, visit the many studios and shops and explore historic landmarks.

Special Features: Last year eight Leigh Art Trail artists were the main exhibitors at a prestigious Danish arts event. The annual KunstiSlusen ART HVIDE SANDE is now in its sixth year and attracts between four and six thousand visitors over two weeks. The exhibition was curated by Leigh artist and Art Trail regular Andrew Haines, who now lives in HvideSande.

For this year’s Leigh Art Trail, Andrew will be presenting ‘The Danish Collection’ in the Old North Street School House. This will include a guest Danish artist Ida Trier showing her fused glass sculptures, Leigh artist Karen Christensen who moved to England from Denmark in 1989, Leigh artist Simon Kirk, who following on from his success at Kunst I Slusen now has work on exhibition in two Danish galleries, and of course Andrew Haines himself.

Make a day of it: Come and appreciate the beauty of Old Leigh with its cobbled streets and sandy beach.